Work, Werk, Work
This anniversary month has been an amazing walk down memory lane of my beginning stages of blogging–this has been an incredible 5 years!! If you missed any of the previous 4 blogs, they are all linked at the end of this post. Today will be my final “5 Lessons Learned in 5 Years” post!
I have learned in the blogging that there is a lot of work, “werk” and more work to do in order to establish yourself in this industry! It never stops! Just to create one blog post requires much work and here are the steps:
The initial phase of work is putting together an ensemble and finding a shoot location. Sounds simple? Well, the ensemble has to right! Fashion-forward, somewhat on trend and something that your audience would like to mimic. You must gather the coordinating accessories and ensure that no wardrobe malfunction will occur (you never know how hard the wind will blow, lol). I like to gather my ensembles in advance and have them ready for the photoshoots.
Shoot locations are also the key to great photos! Often my hubby and I just drive around until we find a scene that will compliment my look. I seem to like solid color wall backgrounds, nature backgrounds and brick walls. LOL, you will find this all over my blog! However, there are so many different backgrounds that can make your ensemble pop: finding an beautiful door, tall columns, city streets and sidewalks are some of the locations most bloggers choose. The following photos are a variety of 15 backgrounds I have used in the past:
Subway Station | Grumpy Panda Photography
Escalator
Nature
Steps
Brick Walls
Colored Brick Walls
Parking Lots
Painted Walls
Gardens
Benches or brightly colored background objects
Tunnels
Regal Columns
City Night Life & Streets
Train Tracks
Playgrounds
The next phase of “werk” is posing. As you can see from the photos, I have signature poses and signature things that I do, like smiling because I can’t help it, lol (I laugh a LOT). What you see in my photos is not required… you don’t even have to smile to have great pictures. However, for one set of photos of one ensemble, you do want to change up your poses and facial expressions–don’t repeat them until you are taking an entire new set of pictures! Here is a slideshow and guide, “Deconstructing the #OOTD Pose” by a blogger resource that I admire and frequent, Refinery 29, that can help you with posing.
The final phase of work before your post is complete is the actual content you will attach to the photos. What will you say in with words that amplify what your audience sees in your photos? Here are a few suggestions of things you can discuss or say in your blog posts:
- How/why you put the ensemble together
- An explanation of a profound or fashion quote
- The places you would go in your featured look
- Predictions for the fashion season
- Personal stories or anecdotes
- Life lessons
- Informative posts that establish your expertise as a fashionista or fashionisto
- Reviews of a product or brand
- Resource sharing
- Interviews
- Checklists
- Behind-the-scenes posts
- Guest posts
- Portfolio of a collection of your looks or client work
- FAQs
- Survey questions or audience feedback
- Tips and tricks
- Contests or giveaways
- Personal Quizzes
- In-depth responses to audience questions or feedback
- Best of/ Top ______
- Testimonials
- Your response or reaction to Other Posts in the fashion world
Bookmark this blog post as a resource in the future if you ever run out of ideas!
Thank you for sharing this journey with me! I am grateful for you and look forward to another year of Corner Curl Girl!
P.S. All unlabeled images were taken by my handsome hubby, Mardis Hall. 🙂
xoxo,
Corner Curl Girl
15 comments on “Work, Werk, Work”
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Corner Curl Girl 
It’s been an awesome series! Happy blogaversary again lady!
SO many ideas here and you look great in all of them. I’d be scared on those train tracks and on the escalator though. lol
Well done! Yep..you gotta take care of all these stuff. Love the outfits! 🙂
LaQuisha, I love the look on the railroad tracks! Absolutely stunning! Thanks for the tips as well.
The black and white outfit on the escalator and the yellow dress are my favorites. Blogging work! People just don’t realize how much work we put into our blogs.
Marble walls and subway are my fave places to shoot.
I definitely bookmarked this post. I need help sometimes. I love the various places you took your pics.
Great tips! I love your style! I also love that your husband is an integral part of your blogging. He takes great shots.
I love all of these looks. Especially the who, me!
I started as a Fashion Blogger and I was thinking about doing more fashion posts, these are great tips!!!
Happy Blog Anniversary! I can totally relate to this process! Your pictures are always fabulous, and you’re always on point!
Beautiful pictures and you have an amazing smile, so keep up the great work. Never stop smiling! Happy Anniversary.
Okayyyy you look great! I love a great solid colored wall or bricks, however I love the urban feel of the subway as a northerner. Keep doing great things with your blog and congrats on 5 years!
I loved all the looks! Those wall brick shoes are it.
Thanks for the insight 🙂 its always interesting to hear the perspective from someone who works from the other side of the camera plus I think many of your suggested ideas could be applicable in a variety of settings.